7 Ways to Make Camping Food Better

June 14, 2018

It’s camping season. You know what that means: time to pack up our gear, head out into the wilderness and eat boring, bland meals. Right? No way! It doesn’t have to be like that. Here are a few ideas for making your food better when you’re roughing it in the sticks.

Keep it simple

Part of making camping food better might mean simplifying a bit, to make the process easier and tastier by focusing on one or two dishes per meal, max. One-pot solutions are convenient, and because they tend to be thick, stewy meals, they’re often filling and satisfying. Perfect fuel for a day of bushwacking.

Plan ahead

This sounds obvious, but planning ahead on your food can really help you enjoy your camping experience. Just a small amount of planning will help ensure you have all the ingredients you need to make meals that taste great and are easier to prep. Check your supplies to make sure you have what you need, including oil, salt, garlic, carrot sticks—and don’t forget the condiments! Nothing worse than buying a brand new mustard when you already have three in your fridge at home.

Take turns

If you’re camping with friends or family, assign everyone a different meal. That way you only have to worry about a meals yourself, and you can focus on making them great. Plus, you get to sit back and enjoy someone else’s take on camping food, which is a great way to learn new tips and tricks.

Bring the right gear

You need gear that matches your camp food ambitions. That means the right stove, the right skillet, an oven mitt or two, a coffee grinder and French press, a cooler and a few good knives. It sounds like a lot of stuff, but you need it. Looking for suggestions? We’ve got you covered.

Prepackaged pancakes

That should be all we need to say. Stir up some pancake mix in a Tupperware container, then treat everyone to flapjacks in the morning. Nothing better. Don’t forget the maple syrup!

Bring snacks

There are so many great backpack-friendly camp foods that are portable and easy to make or find. They make camping food better as a whole, because they work well as snacks for day-tripping hikes, or for complementary side dishes that amp up your meals. Here are a few ideas.

Eat local

Nothing like wild, edible plants to add some exciting local flavor to your camping trip—literally. Before you go, research the wild edibles that grow in your area, then go for it! You want to be safe and careful about what you’re eating, of course. Here are a few ideas for getting started.

What are your ways of making camping eats better? Let us know in the comments below.

By Ryan Abbott

Ryan is a writer who’s into container gardening, mainstream sports and peppy guitar-based music. His favourite foods are sandwiches, leafy greens and coffee.